OXIGÊNIO NO CONTEXTO DA COVID-19: O QUE SABEMOS SOBRE A MOLÉCULA QUE RESPIRAMOS E O PAPEL CENTRAL DA QUÍMICA

OXYGEN IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULE WE BREATHE AND THE CENTRAL ROLE OF CHEMISTRY. In this work, the role of chemistry in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is highlighted through the medical oxygen supply crises in Brazil, as an example of oxygen utility in health. Starting from oxygen chemical characterization, the oxygen cycle in nature is discussed to show how oxygen is formed through photosynthesis, followed by the description of the industrial oxygen production from atmospheric air, including physical-chemical aspects. The use of medical oxygen concentrator is presented and how this device works from the chemical point of view. Besides, the noninvasive and painless oximetry is described in terms of how oxygen saturation level in blood is measured using LED - light emitting diode.